chapter 1

Emily

My face washed with joy as the kitchen was filled with the warm, comforting scent of Alex, my husband's favorite dish and I couldn’t help but smile. 

I glanced at the folded paper on the table and I felt my heart swelling with joy as I picked it up again, reading it for what felt like the hundredth time. 

Tonight is going to be perfect. I still can't believe this. I'm pregnant and the thought of it made my stomach swell with excitement. 

After four years of trying, four years of disappointment and heartbreak, the day has finally come. 

I pressed a hand to my stomach and tears of happiness fell down my eyes. 

When we lost our first baby, it felt like the world had collapsed around me. Alex has been distant ever since and his mother… Well, she never missed a chance to remind me that I had failed her son. She wanted me gone. She has never been in support of our marriage and losing my child was a perfect opportunity for her to send me away. 

I can't give up on my husband and my marriage. I love him so much and I endure all his mother's ill treatment towards me. 

But this.. this is our second chance. This will bring the lost joy in my marriage. 

I could already picture Alex’s face when I told him. I knew he would be overjoyed. I knew it. This is the news that would bring us closer again, that would make everything better. We would finally have the family we have always wanted and no one, not even his mother could tear us apart.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t hear him come in until the door slammed close. 

I was startled and jumped, dropping the paper as Alex stormed in, his face twisted with fury. The anger on his face made my heart race.

"Alex?" I called softly, my voice barely above a whisper as I moved towards him. 

"What’s wrong?"

He didn’t answer. His face was contorted with rage as he crossed the room, his footsteps heavy, his gaze on me menacingly, piercing through my soul like a dagger. 

My chest tightened. Something is terribly wrong. I could feel it. This is unlike him. 

Did something happen at the office? Did he lose the contract? 

"Is everything alright?" I whispered, my heart filled with worries. 

He looked at me with disgust. Without a word, he threw something at me. It wasn’t until the papers scattered on the cold floor that I realized they were pictures.

My hands trembled as I picked them up, my breath catching in my throat and my eyes widened in horror as I stared at the images. 

They were pictures of me but not just me, it was me and another man. A man I didn’t even know. The photos were intimate, showing us in compromising positions as if we were lovers.

Where did he get this?  Am I dreaming or what? I don't understand what's going on. 

My stomach lurched, bile rising in my throat. “What… what is this?” I stammered, my voice shaking.

Alex finally spoke, his voice cold and sharp as a knife. “Don’t play dumb with me, Emily. How long has this been going on?”

How long has this been going on? Is this some kind of joke or what? 

The accusation hit me like a slap to the face. I looked up at him, tears blurring my vision.

I didn't even know who was in the picture. 

My heart pounded with dread as a cold sweat ran down my spine.  “Alex, I swear… I don’t know anything about this. I’ve never...”

“Enough!” He cut me off, his voice sent a shock wave of panic through my soul. “I’ve seen enough. I saw the pictures, Emily."

His whole body vibrated with rage, gazing at me with disappointment that sent my heart thumping in my chest. 

"Everyone saw them at the office during my meeting. Do you have any idea what you’ve done to me? Do you know the humiliation and shame I face today in front of my entire staffs because of you?” He questioned through gritted teeth, fighting so hard to control his rage. 

My heart shattered into a thousand pieces as tears streamed down my cheeks. 

He didn’t believe me. After everything, he thought I could betray him like this. The joy, the excitement I had felt a moment ago crumbled under the weight of his rage and disgust.

“But Alex,” I pleaded, my voice breaking. “I didn't know anything about this, I'm innocent, please, believe me."

“Believe you?” He laughed bitterly, “I had believed you for four years but not anymore. Now I believe everything my mother has been saying about you was true. I was just too blind to see it but now, everything is open, I can see through you.”

His words shattered my heart, "I want a divorce," he altered. 

 My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a painful warning of how everything was about to fall apart in mere minutes.

"What?" My voice was barely above a whisper as tears streamed down my cheeks. 

“Yeah, you heard me right. I want a divorce,” Alex said, his voice so calm, so steady, as though he wasn’t ripping my world apart with those four words.

I blinked, my breath catching in my throat. Divorce? No. This couldn’t be happening. There must be a way out. Divorce is not an option, not now, not when I'm carrying his child. 

“Alex, no… please, you can’t mean that,” I whispered, taking a step toward him, my hands trembling. “This is just a setup… I didn’t do it. I swear, I would never...”

“I regret ever marrying you, Emily.” He cut me off. “Do you understand that? I regret every single day of being with you. You’re nothing but a mistake in my life.” His voice was like a sword, cutting through my chest. 

My knees weakened beneath me and I stumbled back, hitting the edge of the table for support. I searched his eyes, desperate to find some hint of the man I loved, the man who had held me through our darkest moments. But there was nothing… Nothing but anger and disgust.

My heart was shattered into pieces as tears of agony fell down my cheeks. 

Who could have done this to me? I knew this was orchestrated for Alex to hate me. But why? Why would the person choose to ruin my marriage this way? 

No, I won't allow this to happen. I have to explain to him. I don't know anything about this. He has to believe me. 

“Please, Alex, listen to me. You’re hurt right now and I understand but believe me, I didn't do it! I love you, I’ve always loved you..” My voice cracked, tears spilling down my cheeks as I pleaded with him, reaching for his hand but he pulled away as if my touch burned him, breaking my heart. 

He stepped back, his face twisted in disdain. “I don’t want to hear it. My lawyer will prepare the divorce papers and you’ll have them by tomorrow. You just have two days to sign them and leave my house.” 

His words were final, cold, like a judge passing a sentence. Each cutting deeper and deeper.